There Is No Escape ... ?

[mistaken_for_monster]

[1] [During the mission 'An Awesome Prayer is Conflict With Us']

[PRAYER attacks, people panic. Police Machines go berserk. People Panic. The Evacuation has been hitting several snags and in the process was one kid in particular who didn't look very much like a local and was frantically trying to find his way through the scrambling mass of people trying to get to safety before he ended up tripping and crashing into the ground and whimpering panickedly in what appeared to be Russian of all things.]

-Why is this happening... what did I do to deserve this?!-

[He flinched as he got to his feet, holding the side of his head and looking around in a panic as the sounds of fighting were most definitely audible over the evacuating civvies.]

S..someone? Help... please!

[He's in over his head and has no idea what the hell he's supposed to do here.]

[2] [Some time after the mission.]

[With the PRAYER destroyed and Shaft sealed life slowly begins to return to normal despite several buildings needing repairs. For those who have lost their homes and livelihoods, the city is providing for them with food and shelter. As you pass by one such place though...]

Look... we're just five people away from the front, can't you guys wait a little?

"Out of the way you filthy gaijin punk! This food is for people that actually live in this city, not some worthless runt like you!"



[It seemed that there was a smaller kid being hassled by a group of local teenagers who were trying to force him out of the line. He was shoved jabbed and insulted but merely had a look on his face that this was clearly nothing new to him and he just sighed.]

Thirty three...

"Are you listening to me you little white haired freak?! I said out of the way!"

Fourteen...

"The hell are you even counting for?!"

Just about the number of braincells you probably have right now. I'd say you're on the level of a concussed goldfish right about now. and starting to go to comatose pebble.

"KISAMAAAAA!" * (Translator's note: Kisama means Yatsu)

[And he's picked up by his collar very easily, punched in the stomach and shoved into a garbage can with a crash. He barely manages to keep from falling over and looks at the line and- it had just tripled in size. And his new 'friends' were laughing and making vulgar gestures at him and telling him to take his filthy foreign garbage ass to the back of the line. It was at this point he heroically... chose to fall backwards into the pile of trash that had spilled out with his impact to its container and not bother to get up. He ignores the insistent growl of his stomach as he sighs.]

-Now all it needs is rain and it'd be another perfect day.-

[He grumbles bitterly and sadly as he looks up at the sky.]

Comments

[ugyuuya]

[Tarisa reaches out and helps pull the kid from the trashcan and back into line.]

"Punks like that are always mouthing off big and when someone who can actually fight back shows up they always wuss out."

[She dusts off a bit of trash that's sticking to his clothes.]

"So where are you from kid, you look like someone from the main continent of Asia. You a BETA refugee or did one of the other threats run you off?"

[She grabs a tray and passes it over to the kid.]

"In any case you look mighty hungry so eat up. I know the look myself from the time I spent in some of the camps. At least the chow here is better than that was."

[mistaken_for_monster]

Russian actually... I... kinda got chased out of town by some crazy people and I've just been running around ever since...

[Volya sounded pretty unhappy about his lot in life, unsurprising.]

But that's great to hear.. this is my first real meal in months that I didn't have to dig out of the garbage!

I almost forgot what something fresh tastes like.

[ugyuuya]

[Tarisa turns to look at the boy with an annoyed look on her face.]

You got chased out of your home by an angry mob and have been starving in the streets eating from the garbage for months? You figure in the current situation people would be more logical about things and focus on the invading alien forces rather than fighting ourselves. I mean between the BETA and other invaders we've already lost enough land and homes.

[Tarisa takes out a pad and jots down a few numbers and information on a sheet before handing it over to him.]

I'm glad I was able to help you get something decent to eat kid. This paper has some contacts you can get a hold of if things get too bad for you. You'll need to head over to Sakihama base to get through but asking for myself or Stella Bremer should get me or a friend of mine to vet you through and get the help you need. Speaking of names mine's Tarisa Manandal, what's yours?

[mistaken_for_monster]

[Volya pockets the paper with a smile.]

I... thanks... its been a while since anyone's ever bothered to help me.

My name's Volya. Volya Alkaev.

[ugyuuya]

"Well Volya I think I've got to get back to my rounds, make sure you don't let those guys rough you up anymore and if they do start causing too much trouble just let them know that I should be around for a while longer."

[She begins to step away but pauses.]

"You know fighting isn't all muscle mass, it'll help a lot but there are plenty of people who just rely on brute force and don't know the first thing about how to really handle themselves. If they're still hassling you next time I'm around maybe I'll teach you a few tricks. May not have much of a homeland left but we're fighting for it and I've trained with some of the best that are out there on the front lines."

[She produces a khukuri from a belt sheathe in the small of her back.]

"Perhaps if you impress me enough I'll even teach you a few tricks with one of these. But that would be more for show than anything else."

[She re-sheathes the blade and notices from the corner of her eye that same group from earlier looking suitably distressed.]

Again, Pathetically easy.

[mistaken_for_monster]

Um... thanks but... I'm not that much of a fighter.

[He suddenly looks really anxious now. Also the thungs literally shuffle back like a herd of frightened gazelles.]

[ugyuuya]

"If you say so kid, but I have to say you've probably got a bit more fight in you than you even give yourself credit for. I mean you've made it this long where most people you age probably wouldn't. Just think about it and we'll see how you feel a bit later on."